Dear Erick, They just won't learn. Despite overwhelming protests last month from an outraged American people, Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid, are already hard at work yet again trying to tighten the government's grip over the Internet – and their new legislation could come to the Senate floor in just a few short weeks. With the fight over SOPA and Protect IP far from finished, and with this new bill on the horizon, it's more critical than ever that we continue making our voices heard in support of Internet freedom. If you have not yet read the below letter, I hope you'll look it over and take action quickly. Now, when the statists think the coast is clear, is exactly when we need to redouble our efforts and send a loud and clear message to Congress. In Liberty,  Matt Hawes Campaign for Liberty  Dear Erick, I hope this letter makes it to you on time. You see,   The government is certainly hoping you put this letter aside. Throw it in the trash. Assume I am exaggerating the threat they pose to your freedom. Don't make that mistake. What they don't want you to know is   Government censorship? Government control over what you can see, hear, and read online? If they get their way, your news online could look a lot like the above. That's why it's vital you complete the UrgentGram to your representative and senators. There isn't a moment to waste.  Right now, the same folks that brought you the so-called "Patriot" Act, indefinite detention of American citizens, and an unaccountable TSA and an invasive Department of Homeland Security are preparing to wage war on your freedom online. The government is fully prepared to take unprecedented power over the internet unless you and I stop them today. Two bills - SOPA (HR 3261) in the House and Protect IP (S 968) in the Senate - are being pushed by the Big Government leadership of both houses. Action on one or both bills could happen any day. What is the government trying to do? Gain a foothold in the last truly free place on earth - the internet. It's no secret that websites, social media, and other online communities are a hotbed of anti-government, powerful activism. From cafes in Cairo to bloggers in Beijing, those living under oppressive regimes organize, spread information, and fight for their freedom with their words and deeds online. And here at home, from anti-war activists to homeschoolers, anti-tax proponents to civil libertarians, Patriots fight for their freedom online. In addition, these actions by the government will harm the one place where capitalism and the free market are most flourishing. Entrepreneurship and small business creation are at an all-time high online. An idea and a lot of hard work can launch anything from a good side business to a worldwide enterprise online. Minimal startup costs. Fewer regulatory hurdles. Lower tax burdens. All of these factors contribute to a thriving online economy - and one that would be directly and massively harmed by SOPA and Protect IP (which should really be called Destroy IP). The bills give the government the power to put someone out of business for even minor copyright violations. In fact, as originally drafted, these bills give the government the power to shut down websites on even a private allegation of a violation. No investigation. No charges. No trial. No jury. No verdict. Entire websites could be shut down for inadvertent violations, malicious attacks, or a made-up claim. Campaign for Liberty could be shut down virtually overnight if someone - say a Federal Reserve official - claimed a YouTube video we promoted was a "copyright violation. You don't need to think very hard to imagine what a hostile government agent or bureaucrat could do with this power. Our economy AND our freedom are threatened in one massive takeover. SOPA and PIPA purport to give the government the power to shut down websites and disable search engines in the name of stopping "piracy. Right. And they say they are only spying on foreign terrorists. Nothing for us law-abiding Americans to worry about. But let's be honest… If the government takes the power to regulate the internet and shut down information, no matter what the stated reason, you and I cannot control what they do with that power. Has the government EVER taken a power it didn't use to stifle freedom? To paraphrase Madison, we are not governed by angels. That's why you and I must act today. I hope you will take a minute to complete your UrgentGram I have prepared for you. I hope to deliver yours - along with hundreds of thousands like it - in the coming days. There is only one hope to defeat SOPA and Protect IP, and that is a massive public outcry and the spotlight of public attention, coupled with strong action in Congress by friends of liberty like Senator Rand Paul. Already, public reaction has slowed the statists' plans, and proponents of these takeovers are desperate to quickly stop the bleeding. That's why they are trying to speed their power grabs through Congress. And please, don't be fooled by the bill's authors claiming to have "fixed" SOPA to better protect online freedom. Any claim that SOPA or Protect IP can be fixed is FALSE and should be ignored. There is no fixing these bills - only killing them. And that's exactly what Campaign for Liberty will do with your help today. Our team has put together a three-part plan to defeat Protect IP and SOPA: *** Massive web action: Since the most affected people would be those who work or get most of their news online, Campaign for Liberty will target online sites and communities with web ads, Google ads, banners, and emails. Our goal is to contact at least TEN MILLION people in the coming weeks - a huge undertaking. *** Targeted media: Our staff will blanket the internet and the airwaves, the blogs and newspapers, as we sound the alarm nationwide! *** If funds allow, we will launch tv and radio ads as well, alerting talk radio listeners and news viewers of the dangers of SOPA and Protect IP. This undertaking must be done quickly, and it will not be cheap. That's why, in addition to your completed UrgentGram, I am counting on you to make a contribution to Campaign for Liberty today.Please chip in a contribution of $50, $25, $10 - or whatever you can afford. Whatever you can do, right now, will have a big impact. What is your freedom worth to you? I know you are a Patriot who has rallied to our cause many times before. Please stand with us again at this crucial time. As Senator Paul noted, it's up to us to fight this Big Government power grab. That's why he is leading the fight in the Senate. Campaign for Liberty will have his back by leading a grassroots army. I hope he and I can count on your being a part of this fight by completing your UrgentGram and chipping in your maximum possible contribution of $50, $25, $10 - or whatever you can afford. Thank you for all you do in our fight for Liberty! In Liberty, Matt Hawes Vice President P.S. If you don't want the internet to look like this, it is vital you act right away. Please complete your UrgentGram to help C4L stop SOPA and Protect IP in their tracks today! And if you can, please also enclose a contribution of $50, $25, $10 - or whatever you can afford - with your completed UrgentGram. Thank you. |
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